Where locals actually eat in Flagstaff
Flagstaff walks well, and it eats even better. The historic downtown packs eclectic pubs, sushi, Thai, Tex-Mex, and legitimate fine dining into a few blocks you can cover on foot. This list runs through the restaurants worth planning a day around, with addresses and the dishes people keep coming back for.
Between meals, downtown holds most of the city's landmarks too. If you are building a full itinerary, start with our guide to things to do in Flagstaff.
Charly's Pub & Grill
23 N. Leroux Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Charly's sits inside the Weatherford Hotel, open since 1897 and built by John Weatherford, who came to Flagstaff to make his fortune. Eating here means eating inside one of the city's best-known historic buildings.
The menu mixes Southwestern, Italian, French, and American influences. The Aspen Chicken Sandwich is the crowd favorite, and the French Onion Soup and Navajo Tacos hold their own.
More information: weatherfordhotel.com/charlys-pub-grill
NiMarco's Pizza Downtown
101 S. Beaver Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
A local fixture since 1979, near the Northern Arizona University campus. NiMarco's is the town's standby for pizza by the pie or the slice.
Popular picks include the Chicken Pesto, Monster Meat, and Green Chili pizzas. The Spicy Chipotle BBQ Chicken is the one for heat seekers.
Shift
107 N. San Francisco Street, Suite 2, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Shift is a shared-plates restaurant with a seasonal, community-inspired menu. Owner Dara Wong is also a pastry chef, which shows at dessert.
The Short Rib and the Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast are the standouts, and the house gelato and sorbet close the meal properly.
More information: shiftflg.com
Karma Sushi Bar Grill
6 E. Route 66 (Santa Fe Avenue), Flagstaff, AZ 86001
An award-winning local spot on Route 66 where the food and drinks are handmade with care. If sushi is on your Flagstaff list, this is where it happens.
More information: karmaflagstaff.com
Diablo Burger
120 N. Leroux Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
In the heart of downtown, Diablo Burger is the lunch stop that keeps a walking day going. Hearty burgers, good fries, no fuss.
Vegetarians get real consideration here: the Netzky Veggie Burger comes with grilled avocado, beets, and BBQ flavors.
More information: diabloburger.com
Tinderbox Kitchen
34 S. San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Tinderbox is Flagstaff's fine dining without the stuffiness. More than 100 wines on the list, outstanding chefs in the kitchen, and an atmosphere that stays casual and friendly.
Filet Mignon, Duck Confit, New York Strip, Duck Breast. Order accordingly.
More information: tinderboxkitchen.com
Red Curry Vegan Kitchen
10 N. San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Every dish on the menu is fully vegan, and the curries are the reason to come. Spicy Noodles, Yellow Curry, and Pad Thai are the local favorites.
More information: redcurryflagstaff.com
Pato Thai Cuisine
20 E. Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
All the Thai classics done fresh: Pad Thai, Green Curry, Yellow Curry, Spicy Noodles, Papaya Salad. The daily lunch specials are worth checking, and hot jasmine or ginger tea finishes the meal.
More information: patothai.com
Macy's European Coffee House and Bakery
14 S. Beaver Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
European coffee, a vegetarian menu, and the breakfast most locals would point you to before a morning walk. The egg-and-croissant Breakfast Sandwich has a devoted following, and lunch works just as well in the laidback room.
More information: macyscoffee.net
Atria
103 N. Leroux Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Modern American cooking with farm-fresh ingredients in historic downtown. The seafood runs deep, from Smoked Salmon to Grilled Oysters, and the craft cocktail list earns a slow evening.
More information: atriarestaurant.com
Bandoleros 66
11 E. Aspen Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Mexican and Tex-Mex near the historic downtown core, built for people who like their food hot. Al Pastor Tacos, Fish Tacos, Street Tacos, and a Portobello Mushroom Taco for the vegetarians.
More information: bandoleros66.com
Historic Barrel & Bottle House
110 San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Craft beer and burgers on the patio. The Barrel House Burger stacks local grass-fed Angus beef with pickles and aioli on your choice of bun, and the Black Bean Burger covers vegans with a local nexveg patty, vegan chipotle aioli, and a gluten-free bun.
More information: historicbrewingcompany.com/barrel-house-flagstaff
Josephine's Modern American Bistro
503 N. Humphreys Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
A family-operated institution since 2002, with modern American cooking, a wine bar, and seating indoors or out. The Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignon and the Southwestern Crab Cake lead the menu.
More information: josephinesrestaurant.com
Fat Olives
2308 E. Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
The Italian pick, out on East Route 66 and best known for specialty pizzas like the Ms. Piggy and the Belgio Dolce. Meatball and Pepperoni pizzas anchor the traditional side, and the Spaghetti and Meatballs is the classic it should be.
More information: fatolivesflagstaff.com
Satchmo's
2320 N. Fourth Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Casual BBQ with pulled pork and brisket you can smell from the parking lot. The Tavern Burger is the house specialty, a full sandwich menu backs it up, and live music turns up on lucky nights.
More information: satchmosaz.com
Beaver Street Brewery & Whistle Stop Cafe
11 S. Beaver Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
A cold beer after a long day of walking, plus a full menu of wood-fired pizza, salads, and sandwiches. Order the Pepperoni Pizzazz or Three Sausage if you want simple, or the Enchanted Forest or Bacon Blue if you want the kitchen showing off.
More information: beaverstreetbrewery.com
Lumberyard Tap Room & Grille
5 S. San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
American pub food in the middle of the historic downtown, with beer that is all microbrewed or premium label. Indoor seating or the patio, which earns its keep in summer.
More information: lumberyardbrewingcompany.com
Mountain Top Tap Room
10 E. Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
A classic American tavern on Route 66 with local beer, live music, and home-style food. A local legend with the reviews to prove it, and an easy landing spot at the end of an evening downtown.
More information: downtownflagstaff.org/go/mountain-top-tap-room
Annex Cocktail Lounge
50 S. San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Cocktails with a full menu behind them. The Annex Burger is a local legend, stacking house pickles, bacon jam, cheddar, and a secret sauce, and the Chicken Pot Pie covers the comfort food side. Veggie Burger, Mac-n-Cheese, and Fish & Chips round out the entrees.
More information: annexcocktaillounge.com
Brix
413 N. San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
A restaurant and wine bar built on local, farm-focused ingredients and contemporary American cooking, with a stated sustainability commitment. Discerning without being intimidating.
More information: brixflagstaff.com
SoSoBa
12 W. Historic Route 66 #104, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Bring friends and split the Share menu over cold beer. The Ball of Fire, a housemade mac-n-cheese dressed with hot sauce, is not for the timid, and the Vegetarian Katsu leads the meatless options. Gluten-free and vegan choices are on the menu too.
More information: sosobaflg.com
Proper Meats + Provisions
110 E. Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Aptly named and all about meat. The BBQ Pork Sandwich piles house-smoked shredded pork shoulder on a brioche bun with coleslaw, and the Chicken BLT brings bacon, pickled red onions, and herb mayo. The right fuel for exploring Flagstaff on foot.
More information: propermeats.com
Walk it off downtown
Most of these kitchens sit within a few blocks of each other, which is exactly the territory our daytime Flagstaff mural tour covers for $29. You will pass murals funded by 90-plus local businesses, ghost signs from the 1880s, and half the restaurants on this list, so book the walk and plan your dinner along the route. If evenings suit you better, the bars above stay lively long after the tours end; our guide to Flagstaff after dark maps that side of town.
Keep reading
- Things To Do in Flagstaff
- Flagstaff Nightlife: Discover Bars, Haunted Tours & More
- Campsites in Flagstaff
